Food Aid: Rice shipped from Shanghai to countries in need

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02:17

China's efforts to help other countries aren't limited to its Belt and Road neighbors. A major food assistance program is overseeing the shipment of nearly 9-thousand tons of rice to Africa. CGTN's Lin Nan reports.

8,700 tons of rice departed from Shanghai on Friday, in hopes of relieving food insecurity and shortages in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia and South Sudan. It's made possible by The World Food Program, the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide.

QU SIXI, REPRESENTATIVE WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME CHINA OFFICE "China now is a very important partner with the WFP. China contributed to the solution for the world hunger issue through many ways."

The effort is part of China's own food assistance program this year, which will also cover the Republic of Congo and Lesotho. The food will benefit about 300,000 vulnerable people in these African countries.

TIAN LIN, DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION CHINA INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION AGENCY "It is a reflection of the brotherhood between Chinese and African people to share what they have. It is a follow-up action of the 2018 Beijing Summit of China-Africa Cooperation."

ZHANG YI, DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL CHINA INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR ECONOMIC AND TECHNICAL EXCHANGES "China can make the most of the WFP's existing network, its advantages in purchasing, transporting and distributing food by donating food through the WFP, to make it arrive to the people in need as quickly as possible."

The food problems faced by these countries are the result of conflict, climate-related disasters and sluggish economies. According to the Global Food Crisis Report 2019, the DRC ranks second globally in terms of its food needs.

NUMBI KAYEMBE VALENTIN CHARGE D'AFFAIRES OF DRC EMBASSY TO CHINA "We are convinced today, while the Chinese government has given us rice, the support from China to the people of the DRC is something that will continue."

China has worked closely with the WFP and other international organizations to help Africa achieve food security and sustainable development.

LIN NAN SHANGHAI "It will take one to two months to send the food to Africa. But when it arrives, it will pay-off in a big way, bringing hope and relief to people in need. Lin Nan, CGTN, Shanghai."